Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 March 1916 — BECKER A FREE AGENT [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BECKER A FREE AGENT

Outfielder Has Worn Uniform of —Several Big Clubs. —t—- : -;t— ftTTt First Secured by Pittsburgh Pirates and Farmed Out for More Experi-ence—-Was Traded for Manager Charlie Herzog. When the Phillies declared Beals Becker a free agent they turned loose one of the best-known outfielders In the National league. Fred Clarke got him his first position in the majors, but at that time Beals lacked experience and was soon farmed out by the grates. He improved came back and played for the Braves, the Giants, the Reds and the Phillies. He was twenty-nine years old last July. Becker broke into the big show at Pittsburgh. He was born at Eldorado, Kan., on July 5, 1886, stands 5 feet 9 Inches tall, and his playing weight Is about 175 pounds. He is a left-handed batter and thrower, and during his bush league days did some pretty good work as a southpaw pitcher. Becker’s first professional engagement was in 1905, when he wore a Little Rock uniform in the Southern association. Me drifted to Wichita, Kan., in the Western Association, ’ from which team he was bought by the pirates in the fall of 1907. Becker played In the outfield at Wichita and also pitched ten games, winning five of them. After being tried out by Fred Clarke in the spring of 1908, Beals, was sent back to bis old romping ground in Little Rock. His next appearance in the majors was in 1909, when he be-

came a member of the Boston club, but before the opening of the next season Becker was traded to the New York Giants in exchange for Charlie Herzog and William Collins. About two years later the Giants tried to send Becker back to the minors, but Cincinnati refused to waive and thus secured his services for the waiver price. In June of 1913 the Reds swapped Becker to the Phillies for Johnny Dodge. The outfielder remained with the Quakers until recently, when it was announced he had been given an unconditional release. Perhaps he will next be heard from at Brooklyn, Chicago or St. Louis, the three teams in the National league that have not yet carried him on their roster.

Beals Becker.